Fluid pump and motor



July 18, 1944. A. H. NEULAND 3 3 FLUID PUMP AND MOTOR I Filed Sept. 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheetl INVENTOR.

ATM

y A. H. NE ULA'ND: 2,353,780

FLUID PUMP AND MOTOR I F il e d se t'. 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 18,1944

UNITED STATES v PATENT OFFICE FLUID PUMP AND Moron.

I Alfons H. Neuland, Cleveland, Ohio Application September 20, 1941, Serial No. 411,649

9 Claims. (cues-417) This invention relates to expansible chamber fluid motors and pumps of the kind having rotatable displacement elements and chambers and its generalobiect is to provide a. device of simple construction wherein the stroke of the displacement elements may be varied and reversed and which lends itself to rapid production at low cost.

tor and provided with a plurality of driving projections or pins '29, also preferably integrally formed, extending outwardly into the spaces between separators and arranged in a plane perpendicular to its axis of rotation. The inner element I8 is further. provided with an axially concentric convexly spherical surface in operatively liquid tight closure relation with the inner spherical surfaces of the separators it, ll adapted to move therebetween in anydirection. I provide outer closuremeans for the rotor comprising intermediate portions 2!, 2| having concavely spherical surfaces associated in closure relation ment a plurality of pairs of quadrangularly sec- ,tioned laterally. extending and concentrically sure fluid motor or pump embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the dea vice shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse view of the device, taken on the line A-A of Fig. 2, showing particularly the circumferential arrangement of the displacement elements and rotor separators. 1

Fig. 4 is a vertical view, partly in section, of a modified form of balanced pressure pump or motor.

Fig. 5 is a right end view of the separable rotor of the device in Fig. 4, with the right end portion removed in the upper half.

Fig. 6 is a vertical view, partly in section, of another modified form of pump or motor.

In the following description my device will be referred to as a pump, although it will be understood that it is capable of operating as a motor when supplied with fluid under pressure.

The pump shown in Figures 1 to 3 consists of a rotatable separator element or rotor having a power connection i i, a pair of Journal portions I2, l2 and a plurality of laterally extending arcuate separators I3, l3 provided with bosses or shoulders l4, l4 and shaped to form axially concentric inner concavely spherical surfaces It, I5 and to form outer convexly spherical surfaces IS, IS spherically parallel or concentric with said inner spherical surfaces and between separators to form arcuate and laterally concentric working for driving surfaces i1. I provide a rotatable inner closure element l8 within the rotor provided with a preferably integrally formed. central fulcrum or control shaft l9 extending out of the realigned displacement chambers 22, 22' having spherically parallel inner and outer surfaces and having openings 23, 23' in the outer faces of the rotor formed by the ends of the separators and the intermediate closure portions 25, If. The

rotor isseparable in a plane perpendicular to its axis of rotation and its portions are Joined to-' gether with each other, and with the intermediate closure portions 2I, 2| by means of the shoulders I4, l4 'andthe bolts 24 lockingthe parts firmly together to rotate as a unit. The outer closure means further comprises a stationary por- .tion 25 arranged on one-outer side of the intermediate portions and another stationary portion 25' arranged on the other outer side of the intermediate portions and is Joined with the flrstmenthe outlets may be Joined externally or they may v be Joined in the housing as hereinafter described in connection with Fig. 4. The rotoris operatively supported in the housing preferably by anti-friction means such as the needle bearings.

30, 30', bearing against the rotor journals II, 12'. I further provide double acting driving displacement elements It engaging the working surfaces between adjacent separators having spherically concentric innerand outer surfaces in operatively. liquid tight relation with the inner-closure.

- to provide a substantial element It and with the outer closure elements 2|, 2|. The displacement elements, because of the concentrically parallel section of the displacement chambers are free to move (therein arcuately and are arranged to engage the driving pro- Jections or pins 20, preferably in operative bearing relation therewith to provide pivotable and successively engaging driving connections between the rotor and inner element It and at the same time are in eflect caused to reciprocate within the displacement chambers during rotation of the rotor and angular displacement of the axis of the inner element with respect to the rotational axis of the rotor. In this connection it should 7 be noted that because of the arrangement of on the inner element in a to itsrotational axis and the axis of pins 20 plane perpendicular centrally with respect to its spherical surface,

the control shaft I! may be angularly displaced stroke with only a slight circumferential displacement of the displacement elements with respect to the chambers, the working clearance between chambers and pins and the displacement elements being adequate to permit such slight circumferential displacement. The intermediate closure portions 2|, 2| also serve to provide a thrust bearing surface for the displacement elements II which, during rotation, because of centrifugal force, are forced outwardly against the surfaces and from Fig. 1 it will be seen that the elements ll, even during conditions of maximum stroke, bridge the central intervenmg space and at all times engage both intermediate portions 2|, 2|. With this construction and arrangement the rotational friction is substantially confined to that between the rotor and valve faces, relative movement and friction between displacement elements and chambers and between the rotor and inner element being proportional only to the stroke of elements 2|, making it possible to secure a relatively high emciency especially during operation at high speed with a small stroke.

The device is provided with means for angularly displacing the rotational axis of inner element II in a fulcrum plane with respect to the rotor axis, that is in a plane centrally between the fluid inlet and outlet ports shown particularly in Fig. 2, in which it is seen that the control shaft I! has been shifted forward in a horizontal plane and that the plane of displacement occupies a central position between the port 28' and 28'. This means comprises a fulcrum roller 22 operatively mounted on the fulcrum shaft l9, preferably by anti-friction means, such as the rolling bodies 33 and rollingly engages one or the other fulcrum surfaces 24, 25 provided in the stationary housing portion 25', and further comprises a control bearing also preferably provided with rolling bodies 28 which may be arranged to operate within a raceway 21 having a spherical bearing surface permitting angular movement of the shaft i! with respect to the control element 38 which is slidingly supported by the housing portion 25'. The control shaft I! is thus free to move in the fulcrum plane with but little friction and may be shifted to various positions by suitable means connected to the rod 38; orit may be shifted by some means such as fluid pressure applied to the cylinder 40 which may be balanced by a spring ll, particularly in sure elements, the device may be operated under assarao .ment elements reciprocate so as to develop suction "at the inlet ports 28, 28' and to develop pressure in the diagonally opposite outlet ports 28,

28. The lateral thrust exerted on the rotor by pressure in port 28 is opposed and substantially balanced by the lateral thrust exerted on the rotor by pressure in the port 28', which makes it possible for the rotor to float between the valve faces '21, 21' without exerting any thrust thereon, the tendency of the rotor to skew counterclockwise in-an axial plane, upwardly at the right and downwardly at the left being'taken, care of by the roller bearings 30, 30' respectively. Pressure thrust on the intermediate and inner closure elements 2|, 2| and I8 is similarly balanced since thrust on the area exposed to pressure on one side is equalized by a similar thrust on the area exposed to pressure on a diagonally opposite side, permitting the inner element to float .within the rotor without imposing any substantial load upon the spherical bearing surfaces. The diagonally opposite pressures on the displacement elements 3| also operate to neutralize one another with respect to load between the spherical surfaces of the inner element and rotor but develop a skewing movement in the fulcrum plane, which however is taken by the fulcrum shaft i9 and transferred to the housing-through the roller 32 as heretofore already described. When the device is to be operated with a fixed stroke, the control elements may be omitted and the necessary fulcrum provided by mounting a bearing race equivalent to the roller 32 directly in the housing so as to operatively support the fulcrum shaft i8 in an inclined position such as shown in the drawings. Because of the balanced pressure between the rotor and inner and outer clohigh pressure without risk of seizure between operatively associated surfaces. However it will be noted that each sideof the device constitutes an operable unit and, if desired, the two sides may be connected to separate circuits or one side may be operated to the exclusion of the other side. In the latter instance the housing portion 25' serves to take the pressure thrust from the rotatable elements.

Two or more devices may be connected with one another to form the pump and motor units in a power transmission or control system. In such an application the pump unit may be driven at a constant speed through the power connection II, and the speed and direction of rotation .of the motor may be varied and reversed respectively by movement of the control shaft I! of the pump unit into various positions. When the pump shaft is driven in the direction shown by the arrow and the control shaft is moved upwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, fluid is forced out of the ports 29, 29' and, flowing into the motor connected to these ports, drives the motor in a given direction and as the pump shaft i8 is moved downwardly, the pump output and motor speed decrease until the pump shaft l8 reaches a central position, when the pump output and motor speed verse direction. Thus the units may be permanently connected and the speed anddirection of the motor varied and reversed in response merely to movement of the pump control shaft.

In the modification shown in Figures 4 and 5, the stationary housing portions 25, 25' are shaped to form a concavely spherical surface providing the outer closure for the displacement chambers 22, 22', the spherical surface being extended toward the axis of the rotor to form spherical valve faces and a pair of diagonally opposite inlet ports and a pair ofdiagonally opposite outlet portsarranged in a horizontal plane in Fig. 4, their axial position with respect to the rotor being indicated by the dotted lines 42, 43. The outer con-'- vexly spherical surfaces of the rotor separators l3 are also extended to provide openings therein for the displacement chambers which cooperate with the valve faces to conduct fluid into and out of the chambers. The extended spherical surfaces beyond the separators further provide bearings operatively supporting the rotor within the housing, the roller bearing 30 serving to mainelements II. The rotor is held in operative contact with inner element It and housing portion by the convexly spherical surface 5| on the housing element 25' in operative bearing contact with the spherical surface of the inner element l8, which also serves to take the pressure thrust on the rotatable elements. In this modification the pressure between operatively associated parts .is not balanced as in the devices shown in Figures 1 to 5, nor has it the low friction loss and high efllciency of the device shown in Figures 1 to 3, but is suitable for operation with a moderate speed and pressure and provides a rugged variable output device that can be manufactured at low cost.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by letters Patent is: D

1. In a fluid motor or pump, the combination of a rotor having a journal end portion providing a power connection and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced laterally extending arcuate separators formed integral with said end por-- The housing may be modified to provide ducts whereby a portion of the fluid entering the inlet pipe 44 flows downwardly to the inlet port on the far side and another portion flows axially through a thin sealing tube 45 and thence downwardly to the'. inlet port on the near side as shown by the arrows. Similar ducts are provided for conducting fluid out of the device, fluid from the outlet port on the near right side flowing through the sealing tube 48 into outlet pipe 41 and being Joined by fluid from the outlet port on the far left side. The axially separable portions of the rotor are joined with one another by suitable means, such as the screws 48, imbedded directly in the separators l3, 18'. The concentrically parallel working surfaces of the displacement spaces tending outwardly between said separators; an r outer closure element having a concavely spheriplacement chambersmove relatively with respect to the housing in proportion to the speed of rotation involving a considerable frictional loss which is further increased by the rotational rubbing friction of the displacement elements with respect to the housing due to centrifugal force as a result of which it is incapable of attaining the efflciency or operating at high speed such as are possible with the device in Figures 1 to 3.

The modification shown in Fig. 6 is similar to the device in Figures 4 and 5 in that the stationary housing portions 25, 25' provide the spherical closure for the rotor but differs therefrom in that it is provided with but a'single pair of ports and ducts arranged in a horizontal plane, the outline of.which is indicated in a vertical plane in Fig. 6 by the dotted lines 48, 50. The separators l3 are shaped to extend beyond the tion and shaped to provide concentric with each other and with the rotational rotor axis inner and outer spherical surfaces and between adjacent separators to provide arcuate working surfaces; a rotatable inner closure element having a convexly spherical surface in operative closure relation. with the inner surface of said separators adapted to rotate on an axis angularly displaced with respect to the rotational axis of said rotor I and provided with a plurality of projections excal surface in closure relation with the outer surface of said separators forming therewith and with said inner closure element a plurality of quadrangular laterally extending displacement chambers between separators having spherically parallel inner and outer surfaces; means for rotationally supporting said rotor and said inner element on axes angularly displaced one With-re" spect to the other; and a plurality of quadrangularly sectioned arcuate displacement elements fltted within said displacement chambers in operatively liquid-tight relation therewith and piv otally supported by said projections on axes perpendicular to the spherical surf-ace of the inner element engaging said working surfaces and providing a driving connection between one of the separators and the inner element.

2. Afluid motor or pump comprising in combination a rotor having a Journal end portion providing a power connection and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced laterally extending arcuate separators formed integral with said end portion and'shaped to provide concentric with each other and with. the rotational rotor axis inner and outer spherical surfaces and between adjacent separators to provide arcuate working surfaces; arotatable inner closure ele ment having a convexly spherical surface in operative closure relation with the inner surface of said separators adapted to rotate on an axis. angularly displaced with respect to the rotational the outerly spherical surface of said separators center of their spherical surface and provide the forming therewith and with said inner closure element a plurality of quadrangular laterally extending arcuate displacement chambers having" wardly between said separators; a

4 assa'reo spherically parallel inner and outer surfaces and further shaped to provide inlet and outlet ports registering with said displacement chambers, the housing being provided with means for rotationally supporting the rotor and the inner closure element 'on axes angularly displaced one with respect to the other; and a plurality of quadrangularly sectioned arcuate displacement elements operatively fltted within said displacement chambers in operatively liquid-tight relation therewith and pivotally supported by said projections on axes perpendicular to the spherical surfac of said inner element engaging said working surfaces and providing a driving connection between one of the separators and the inner element.

3. A fluid motor or pump comprising in com-' bination a rotor having a pair of axially separable journal end portions, each end portion having a plurality of circumferentially spaced laterally extending arcuate separators formed integral therewith provided with means for joining the portions together and shaped to provide concentric with each other and with the rotational rotor axis inner and outer spherical surfaces and between adjacent separators to provide arcuate working surfaces; a rotatable inner closure element having a convexly spherical surface in operative closure relation'with the inner surface of said separators adapted to rotate with but on an axis angularly displaced with respect torthe rotational axis of said rotor and provided with a plurality of projections extending outwardly between .said separators; a stationary housin shaped to provide a central closure portion having a concavely spherical surface in operative closure relation with the outerly surface of said separator-storming therewith and with said inner closure element a plurality of quadrangular laterally extending arcuate displacement chambers havingspherically parallel inner and outer surfaces and further shaped to provide diagonally opposite inlet and diagonally opposite outlet ports positioned 5 to register with said displacement chambers and provided with means for rotationally supporting the rotor and the inner closure element on axes angularly displaced one with respect to the other; and a plurality of quadrangularly sectioned arcuate displacement elements operatively fitted within said displacement chambers in operatively liquid-tight relation therewith and pivotally supported by said projections on axes perpendicular to the spherical surface of said inner element engaging said working surfaces and providing a driving connection betwteen one of. the separators and the inner elemen 4. A fluid motor or pump comprising in cornbination a rotor having a journal end portion providing a power connection and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced laterally extending arcuate separators formed integral with said end portion and shaped to provide concenhousing shaped to provide an outer closure having a concavely spherical surface in operative closure relation with the outerly surface of said separators forming therewith and with said inner closure element a plurality of quadrangular laterally extending arcuate displacement chambers having spherically parallel inner and outer surfaces and further shaped to provide inlet and outlet ports registering with said displacement chambars, the housing being provided with means for rotationally supporting the rotor and the inner closure element on axes angularly displaced one with respect to the other; and a plurality of quadranguiarly sectioned arcuate displacement elements operatively fitted within said displacement chambers in opera'tively liquid-tight relation therewith and pivotally supported by said projections on axes substantially perpendicular to the spherical surface of said inner element engaging said working surfaces and providing a driving connection between one of the separators and the inner element.

5. A fluid motor or pump comprising in combination a rotor having a pair of axially separable journal end portions, each end portion having a plurality of circumferentially spaced laterally extending arcuate separator formed integral therewith provided at their free ends with outwardly extending shoulders for joining the portions together and shaped to provid concentric with each other and with the rotational rotor axis inner and outer spherical surfaces and between adjacent separatorsgto provide arcuate working surfaces, said rotor further including an outer closure portion for each of said separable rotor portions having a concavely spherical surface associated with the outer surface of corre-' spending separators and positioned thereon to tric with each other and'with the rotational rotoraxis inner and outer spherical surfaces and be tween adjacent separators to provide arcuate working surfaces, said arcuate separators bein formed to extend vlaterally substantially beyond the center of said spherical surfaces; a rotatable inner closure element having a convexly spherical surface in operative closure relation with the innersurface of said separators adapted to rotate on an axis angularly displaced with respect to the rotational axis of said rotor and provided with a plurality of projections extending out-- stationary .15

provide outwardly facing fluid openings between separators positioned between each outer closure portion and a' corresponding end portion and further including means for locking the separable end portions with each other and with said outer closure portions to form a rotor unit; a rotatable-inner closure element having a convex- 1y spherical surface in operative closure relation with the inner surface of said separators adapted to rotate with but man axis angularly displaced with respect to the rotational axis of said rotor forming with the rotor unit a plurality of quadrangularly sectioned laterally extending arcuate pairs of displacement chambers having spherically parallel inner and outer surfaces and provided with a plurality of projections extending outwardly between said separators; a stationary housing for said rotor provided with fluid inlet 7 and outlet ports registering with the fluid openingsin said rotor and provided with means for I rotationally supporting the rotor and the inner element on axes angularly displaced one with respect to the other; and a plurality of quadrangularly sectioned arcuate displacement ele-1 ments operatively fltted within said pairs of displacement chambers in operatively liquid-tight relation therewith and pivotally supported by said projections on an axis substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the inner closure element engaging said'working surfaces and providing a driving connection between one of the separators and the inner element.

6. In a fluid motor or pump, the combination ofa rotor including a pair of axially separable portions each portion having aplurality of circumferentially spaced laterally arcuate separatorsprovided with means for joining the p rtions together and shaped to .provide concentric with each other and with th rotor axis inner and outer spherical surfaces and between adjacent separators to provide arcuate working surfaces;

a rotatable inner closure element having a convexly spherical axially concentric surface in closure relation with the inner surface of said sepl arators; an outer closure element having a concavely spherical surface in closure relation with the outer surface of said semrators forming therewith and with said inner closure element a plurality oi quadrangular laterally arcuate displacement chambers having spherically parallel inner and outer surfaces; a plurality of displacement elements operatively fitted within said displacement chambers and pivotally supported by said inner elementon an axis perpendicular to its spherical surface; and means for operatively supporting said inner element on an axis angularly displaced with respect to the rotational axis of said rotor thereby causing arcuately lateral reciprocation of the displacement elements within said chambers.

i. In a variable stroke fluid motor or pump, the combination of arotor having a plurality of circumferentialiy spaced laterally arcuate separators shaped to provide concentric with each other and with the rotor axis inner and-outer spherical surfaoes and between adjacent separators-to provide arcuate workingflsurfaces; inner and putenclosurelements having spherical surfaces in closure relation with the spherical surfaces of said separators and forming therewith a plurality of quadrangular laterally arcuate displacement chambers having sphericall concentric inner and outer surfaces, one oi said closure elements being provided with projections extending radially into said chambers; a plurality oi displacement elements fitted within said displacement chambers in operatively liquid-tight relation therewith and pivotally supported by said projections, one of said displacement elements providing a pivoted driving connection between a corresponding projection and said rotor; and means for variously angularly displacing the rotational axis of the last mentioned closure element with respect to the rotational axlsjof the rotor thereby causing arcuately lateral reciprocations of the displacement elements within said chambers and causing the stroke of such reciprocations to vary in response to variations in the angular displacement between said rotational axes.

8. In avariable stroke fluid motor or pump the combinationot a rotor vl'lavins a plurality oi,

circumferentially spaced laterally arcuate sepzi-g arators shaped to provide concentric with each;

other and withthe rotor axis inner and outer;

spherical surfaces and between adjacent separators to provide arcuate working surfaces; a rotatable inner closure element having a convexly spherical surface in closure relation with th inl 5 net surface of said separators; an outer closure element having a concavely spherical surface in closure relation with the outer surface of said separators forming therewith and with said inner closure element a plurality of quadrangular laterally arcuatedisplacement chambers having spherically. parallel inner and outer surfaces; a plurality of displacement elements operatively fltted within said displacement chambers in operatlvely liquid-tight relation therewith and pivotally supported by said inner element, one of said displacement elements providing a pivoted driving connection between a corresponding sepluster and the inner element; and means for variously angularly displacing the rotational axis tional axis 0! said rotor thereby causing arcuately lateral reciprocation of the displacement elements within said chambers and causing the stroke of such reciprocation to vary in response to variations in the angular displacement between said rotational axes.

9. In a variable stroke fluid motor or pump, the combination oi a rotor having a plurality of circumferentially spaced laterally arcuate separators shaped to provide concentric with each other and with the rotor axis inner and outer spherical surfaces and between adjacent separators to provide arcuate working surfaces; a ro-' tatable inner closure element having a convexly spherical surface in closure relation with the innor surface of said separators and provided with a plurality of spaced outwardly extending pivots arransed perpendicular to its spherical surface;

an outer closure element having a concavely axis of said rotor thereby causing arcuatels lateral reciprocation oi the displacement elements within said chambers and causing the stroke of so such reciprocation to vary in response to variations in the angular displacement between said rotational axes.

ALFONS H. -NEULAND.

of said inner element with respect to the rota-- 

